Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-04
A WOMAN HANGED.
Mrs. R0X8na Druse Meets Death on
the Gall0ws at Herkimer, n. Y,
for Buichering Her Hus band.
The Commission of Physicians appointed
by Governor E1l Found that the
Woman Had Never Been Insane.
NO HOPE OF A PARDON.

ALBANY, n. l :, REQ. 2S.-lt LfaGSpIrGS
thGt Governor Hill about two weeks ago
appointed commission TO consider me
case OF Mrs. DruSe, the murderess, who Is
to be executed to-day at Herkimer. The
report Of this commission was made pub
lie last night. They find Mrs, Druse was
sane ct the time she murdered her hus-
band, also that she is still sane. It WAS
on the strength OF this report that Cover
nor Hill informed the spiritual adviser Of
Mrs. Druse that he would not interfere
with the execution of the law.
HER LAST MOMENTS.
IIERKnIER, n Y, Feb. 28-After ser
vices last evening Mrs. Druse remained
up until about 1870. Deputy Sheriff
BARLEY Merton with Mt. and Mrs. Water
man, the death watch, induced her to lie
down and she had about an hours quiet
sleep. She awakened with q start, and
upon arising began to write letters as
calmly as she had at any time during her
incarceration. One to Sheriff Cook eX
pressed her thanks for his kindness tic
her and wished him life of happiness.
Another was as follows, addressed also to
the Sheriff:
KIND SIR: If it is to be my sad fate to
die SO soon, |, therefore, venture to make
this request to you, that as soon as life is
gone from my body you will place it in
charge of him who has been my friend to
the last, Rev. George Powell, and that he
alone as minister of the Gospel be present
az my death and officis-e at my funeral, if
am permitted to have Christian burial.
Please grant me this request in your own
handwriting.
Signed Mrs. Il. DRUsE.
After writing Mrs. Druse lay down
again and fell into a doza. She was at
tackled with hysteria In a violent form,
and it required considerable effort on the
part of the watchers to calm her. Dur
ing the night she ate one of the heartiest
meals that she had part2ken of since she
was prisoner. She had about two
hours of rest after 4 q. m. One of the
first visitors this morning was Superin-
tendent Irving Terry OF the Onondaga
peniteEti9ry, who brought farewell
from her daughter Mary who IS life
prisoner. He brought bouquet of flow
ers from Mary. The visit had the most
exciting effect upon Ms. Druse, and all
were affected to tears. Rev. DR.. Powell
visited Mrs. Druse and did all in his pow
er to calm her and prepare her for the
awful moment. She ate no breakfast but
partook CT q stimulating medicine pc
pared by the jail physician. The
counsel, II. Dwight Luce made part
ing visit to her about 10 O'Clock This
again upset her temporarily, but she soon
rallied, and appeared as firm and COM
posed as any one. Captain John Pudding
of the Thirty first Company of National
Guard, with siXtyfour muskets, came
down from Mohawk. Theywere quartered
in the courthouse. Details were posted
ABOUT the Jail to reinforce the deputies
about the exterior Of the Jail. The crowd
in the village increased on the arrival Of
every train, and in spite of the extreme
cold wind, women aud men stood about
the streets surrounding the jail. satisfied
to look at the officials ashley passed in
and GU. CT the building. No one was
permitted to pass the line without dis
playing a badge of authority as deputy.
The execution was witnessed by twenty
five persons, including otiicisls.
Precisely st Il O'Clock the trap was
sprung, and Mrs. Roxalona Druse was
hanged.
THE woMAN's CONFESSION.
ROME, n. Y, Feb. 2S.-The Sentinel
has special from Herkimer, n. Y, saying
that at O'Clock yesterday morning DR..
Powell received message from the jail
requesting his presence at once as Mrs.
Druse wished to see him on matter Of
great importance. He Immediately re-
paired to the cell of the doomed woman,
who greeted him very warmly. The at
tendant was requested to leave them, but
he refused to do so. Sheriff Cook was
appealed to and upon the earnest soliCita-
ton of DR.. Powell he was allowed to
listen to what Mrs. Druse had to say uu-
interrupted. When allowed, the woman
said to Mr.. Powell:
81 have sent for you to make confes-
sion; will you listen?"
yes, certainly" replied the doctor,
and he at once produced pencil and
paper.
"What l am about to say to you has
never been made pubic before, and as
sure you on the honor Of woman on the
brink of the grave that l am speaking the
truth. The world has turned against
me, but l know l have one friend lett, and
t1at is you. Now you must promise that
you Will not say word of this until
am gone; then you can publish it and let
this cruel world know the truth of the
matter. l do not want to take any more
Of your time than l can help, so l
will begin at once. l must take
you back before the murder
and tell of a conversational held with
Charles Gates in reference to the killing
of Druse. L was about December I, on
Wednesday night. Druse was away, as